Telescoping collapsible chair



June 14 1949- A I F. J. BECKER 2,473,090

'ELESCOPING COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR. v

Filed sept. 25, 1947 :sheets-sheet 1 FRANKJQEIEEKER Filed sept.- 23, 1947 3 shee'ts-sheet 2 June 14, 1949. F, J, ,BECKER 2,473,090

TELESCOPING COLLAPS IBLE CHAIR w f8 as "INI as o --Mlln I 4/ ik; nmnlml /6 IN V EN TOR.

x 'RANKJEIECKER- June V14, 1949.

F. J. BECKER TELESCOPING CLLAPSIBLE CHAIR Filed sept. 2s, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.- FRAN K 1-BECKER B l Patented `une 14, 1949 U N l TED S TA TES AT;

NT l'01:' F I CE "IELESGOPING COLLAPSIBLE CHAIR ,Frank J.. Becker, Arlimgton, Va. lApplication September 23,`1947,'S'eral N o; 7 75,644

11 My invention `refers to chairs: `particularlyto acollapsible folding chair.- of the type-commonly 'known as beach chairs and provided inllarge siderable storage -space was needed,v and each, in-

its own way, presented diiculties `in `erecting and/cr folding, rand frequently vprovedfunstable in use even when the diliculties of erection were overcome.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a chair of -lthe character described `which-may be folded into a small and compact unitfor ease of storage; which'issimple to erectrand which is comfortable and stable in use.

it is an important object of the invention to provide a chair or" the/characterdescribed which, in its folded condition, presents a compact unit in which the vstandards supportingthefback rest and seat are telescoped within-the folded legs, and which may be erected for thewithdrawal therefrom of the-saidstandardS.

It is another object ofthe invention'to provide a chair of the character described which-is so constructed and-arranged that vwhen in use the weight of the user tends to stabilize thechair itself by keeping the legs expanded land'thus eliminates all possibility of collapse.

Itis a further object of theinvention-to provide means therein to interlock the seat supporting members and the extended legs so that pressure upon the seat portion ofrthevsaid-chair will *act against said legs tomaintain the'said legs in their extended position.

It is a still further object to provide -achair of the character described which is light in-Weig'ht; simple to open and close; inexpensive tomma-nufacture; compact when folded; andeicient-and comfortable in use.

Other objects andadvantageseoffmy chairfvlill become apparent duringl the courseof the following specification, and the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthe specication,in-which like numerals are yusedtodesignate like-or similar parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevationalview ofa preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a planview ofthe same, part of the combination seat andbackfab-ric and the'handle of the stem unit beingomittedefor clarity.

use vinstantly by#l f13 l Claims. (Cl. 1155-1139) FigureS-is a front elevationA of .the-.same,partly in-section, andwithpart of thestem unit omitted vfor clarity,

Figure l-is a sideelevation of the=chair,-with the `seat-and-back `fabric removed, :1in afolded condition,

Figure' 5 is a perspectiveview of the Astern unit,

Y Figure-6 is a perspective view ofthe split '-retaining ring,

modified form, taken substantially on Ithe lline 8 8-v of Figure .7,

Figure 9.is a side elevation offthe. modified form of the: invention, i in :folded condition -for storage,

'.Figure 10 is a transverse sectioniof'themodi- .'ed lform taken `substantially on i the line I 0-I l) of Figure', and,

Figure 11 isa vertical section. ofthe sameltaken a substantially on the line si I-I I of :Figure 10.

Referring'now in detail to the'drawings, particularly to'fFigures l, Zand 3, -thenumeral .I5 .designates V.generally'the chair of my invention,

comprising a vertical-stem membery lonwhich Y tinuousstrip of flexible. fabric rsides of the said member`- are vmounted a pair of elongated .standards I'I ...and a relatively shorterpairofstandards IIB Ain :amianner/hereinafter to .be described, the said :standards l? and=i8 cooperatinglto supporta con- I9, such as canvas, which forms .a combined yback rest-.andseatffor tliezsaidchair I5, andapluralityof supporting legs i211, lfour said .legs 2i) vbeing .shown lin the accompanying drawings. The .stem member, standards, and legs, and all other parts not speciiically described asv being of canvas or-metal, are

n preferablymade'of Wood.

vided Vat itsl top with aA handle 2201- suitable ymaterial and has a flat base portion A--23 `secured `thereon-normal to the vertical plane of ith'eesaid VVmember, the purposes of y.said base portionland `handle `being hereinafter apparent. A pair of Aoutwardly projecting studs'24 ofslightly less :length than Athe width Vof the vmember I6 v:are ,secured by screwing, orA otherwise on'lthe'opposite IB closely` adjacent the ftop thereof i for af purpose to v'belater described.

A metal cross-bar 25 having inturned ends supporting suitable collars 26 which space said crossbar outwardly from the face of the said member is mounted thereon intermediate the top and bottom thereof in holes therethrough provided for this purpose and is secured on said member by suitable metal nuts 21 or otherwise on the opposite side of said member, and a similar metal cross-bar 2t axially parallel and positioned slightly below the cross-bar 25 is mounted on the opposite side of the member l5, the cross-bar 28 being also spaced outwardly from the face of the member by collars 29, the inturned ends of the said cross-bar 28 passing through other suitable holes provided in the said member and secured thereon by the nuts 30. A short stud 3| is mounted on the member I6 by screwing or otherwise closely above the cross-bar 25 for a purpose to be explained, and a pair of transverse shelf members 32 are secured on the opposite sides of the member i adjacent the bottom thereof by means of a plurality of metal hinges 33, the said shelf members being adapted for swinging movement on said hinges. Each said shelf member 32 carries on its face removed from the member l and adjacent the free ends thereof a pair of metal rings 34, secured to the said shelf member by a plurality of staples 35, clearance being allowed in each said staple 35 for free swinging movement of the respective ring 34 secured thereby.

The standards I8 are mitred at one end and are provided adjacent said mitred end with a transverse hole or passageway 36 to permit mounting said standards |18 for pivotal swinging movement on cross-bar 25, the downward swing of the said standards I8, however, being limited by the stud 3l. Similarly, the standards Il are mitered at one end thereof and provided with adjacent transverse holes 31 for similar pivotal mounting on cross-bar 28.

The legs 2li are doubly mitred at one of their ends and are provided with balls 38 or other enlarged bases at the opposed or ground-engaging ends. Each said leg 20 is provided with a metal eye-bolt 39 at a point near the mitred end, the eyelets of said eye-bolts being adapted and arranged to receive and engage a metal split ring 4e, generally rectangular in configuration and provided on each of its opposite shorter sides with a pair of spaced apart and outwardly extending oppositely disposed portions or stirrups di, the said stirrups being adapted and arranged to provide bearings in which standards I1 and I8 are received when the said chair is erected for use.

Assembly of my chair is Very simple. The standards I'l and I8 having been mounted on the cross-bars 28 and 25, respectively, the mitred ends of the legs 2G are passed upward through the rings 34, and split ring 4U is engaged in the eyelets of eye-bolts 39. The chair is then in the condition shown in Figure 4. The fabric i9 may now be secured on the free end of standards ll and I8 in the manner heretofore described, and the chair is in condition for storage or erection for use.

To erect the chair for use it is necessary only to pull upwardly on handle 22, the resultant upward movement of the stem member l5 spreading the legs by the pressure imparted to them by the impingement of the rings 34 thereagainst as the shelf members 32 swing outwardly on the hinges 33, the upper ends of the said legs 2li being restrained against outward movement by the split ring 40. The upper mitred ends of the said legs 23 are now engaged under the studs 24, and standards l1 and I8 are resting in the stirrups 4l. The chair has thus been erected for use in a. matter of a few seconds without possibility of mix-up of the members. In use, the stud 3i engages the mounted ends of the standards i8, limiting the downward movement of the standards and eliminating all possibility of collapse of the chair while in use.

'Io iold the chair for storage, handle 22 is simply pushed downward after legs 2S have been disengaged from the studs 24, it being unnecessary even to remove the fabric since the fabric may be retained between the folded standards. The swinging action of the shelf members 32 translates the rings 34 downward on the legs 2S, swinging the bottoms of the said legs inwardly to the position shown in Figure 4.

It should be noted that it is impossible to disengage an assembled chair while in the folded position shown in Figure 4 in case erection was attempted by pulling the legs upward rather than the stem since the rings 34 would restrain passage of the bulbous ends 38 of the said legs therethrough.

In the modiiied form shown in Figures 7 through l1 I have simplified my design by the omission of the stem member, but compactness of the folded chair is maintained by following the basic principle of my invention, the telescoping of the seat and back standards within the folded legs, as clearly shown in Figure 9.

In the modification, legs 42 are permanently mounted for free pivotal movement on a circular metal ring 43, the said legs being spaced apart degrees circumferentially on said ring and maintained thus by a plurality of collars 44 carried on said ring 43.

The ends of the said legs 42 adjacent the ring 43 are secured in outwardly directed arcuate metal shoes 45, each said shoe terminating in an integrally formed H-shaped guard member 4l provided with opposed arcuate outwardly-flaring side anges 48, the purpose of said anges being hereinafter apparent. The outer periphery of the said shoe 45 is provided with a serrated portion it between the flanges 48, and the entire shoe assembly is secured on the said leg 42 as by the rivets 49.

Four standards adapted to define the back and seat of the said chair, each said standard terminating in an inwardly disposed arcuate metal shoe 5B provided with an enlarged bulbous end 5|, are mounted on a circular metal ring 52 of a smaller diameter than the ring i3 so that the said ring 52 and the thereon attached bulbous ends 5l may freely pass therethrough. The said standards are also spaced apart 90 degrees on said ring 52 and retained in this position by a plurality of collars 53. Each said shoe 5G is provided with a serrated portion 54 on its inner periphery, of a pitch complementary to the serrations 46 on legs 42, to permit registry of the teeth of the respective serrated portions d3 and 54. The numeral 55 designates one pair of adjacent standards dening the back rest of said chair, the numeral 53 designating the standards which define the seat portion.

The numeral 57 denotes a continuous strip of flexible fabric, such as canvas, adapted to form a combined back rest and seat for said chair. It is provided with closed pockets 48 at each corner to engage the free ends of the standards 55 and 56 to maintainl the fabric in position.

As may be observed in Figure 9, the respective for storage. rthe forms herein showna-nd` described are pre- :leg-:and-standard assembliesare not. permanently `connected vone ftofithe "other when the chair `vis folded -and ein-awcondition iforstorage. Assembly of the separate :units is :accompli-shed'` as hereto- :fore .'described. "The chair -is erected n fory -f use -lby .I simply .lifting up V'the standard assembly lLfrom 1 its -telescoped position -within theioldedlegassembly Vand imposing .the-coveredends of the standards af support for Y the-- chair. '.Interlockingof the said serrated portions ywillfdeine the` extent of--opening .of rthe 1egs142, and lateral 4`separation of fthe said interlocked portions is impossible during'use'be- Icause, of the guard flanges:l 48. Since ;thebulbous endsll are of greater#diameterfthanthe -width between the `iianges, -disengagement Iof the Aserrated. portions by upward movement-ofthe standvards on .the legs'is impossible when-thechairis in use.

.Folding the chair for storageis efectedfby :merely disengaging the registering-serrated por- :tions and folding the :standards inwardly. The

standard assembly may now be dropped inside ftheleg assembly, which,Y in turn, is-folded inwardly f Aon vring `113.

1I have thus described my-inventionA in-theforms `bestknownlto me at thistime. '-Myinvention is :intended'to teach the constructionl of 4acollapsible folding chair wherein the legs and standardsdefning the'back-'and'seat interconnect when erectedand are heldin a'stablecondition when-inuse 'by the pressure of the weight yof rthe-user, and wherein the said standards vmay '-bel telescoped within the folded `legs lwhen the -chairis folded It is further to-'be understood that ferred forms and embodiments vof the sameand that changes in the shape 1and arrangementof parts, andsubstitution of materials and equivalents,` may -be'made withinthe scope of the sub- `joined claims withoutdeparting from the spirit ofthe invention.

-Having thus described my'invention, I claim: 1. In a collapsible folding chair, thecombination ofasupport structure including a yplurality -of legs pivotally mounted at -one of .their ,respective ends and spaced apartcircumferentially :on a ring member, adapted to swingfreely thereon 1to and'from a'frst position in whichthe saidlegs are substantiallyaxially paralleltoa second position in which the saidlegs areextendedto form a support'for said chair, at superstructure including aiplurality of standards, twosaid standards being adapted .to dene ,a back `rest .portion ,for said chairand two relatively shorter standards l.being adapted to dene a, seat portionymeans interconnecting one end of each said standard for `pivotal movement toand froma rstpositionfin whichthe said standardsare substantially @axially parallel toa-secondgposition in which the said standards are extended to dene the back rest and seat portions of 4saidchainthe said interconnecting means for said standards being adapt- -ed to pass through'the ring lmember connecting the said legs when the said legs and said standards are in theirrespective rst positions whereby lthe said superstructure istelescoped within the said Jsupport structure, cooperative connecting 4means carried jointly by said support structure Aand said superstructure for releasably interlocking said structures when said legs and said standards are in their respective second positions, and

withv lthe "serrated i110 6 1aiiexible1cover member'arranged'/toengage fthe @ree-ends ofeach said standard to forma-seat and back rest -ffor said chair.

2. -A Vcollapsible folding chair comprising, in combination, a plurality of supportinglegs;-ring fmeanspivotally connecting-each said leg-atone l of their ends; in spaced apart relation fior oscilla- 4tionfthereom the saidlegs beingl arrangedto-swing from a yiirst `or yfolded Lpositionwherein the 'said fleg-s are'substantiallyaxially parallel one-tofthe yotherto alsecond or extendedfpositionwherein*the legs "provide r`afsupporting structure for the chair, apluralit-y of 'standards adaptedto define a back VVrest-and a seatstructure for said'chair, thestandards dening the seat portion Ybeing relatively shorter-than the standards deningthe backrest, means-interconnecting' each saidstandard at fone -ofJ their respective'endsfor oscillating movement -'from a rst or folded position in which said-standards are substantially axially parallelto afsecond -or extended position defining-saidbackrestan'd `seat portions, vthe said -means and standards 4-mounted thereonbeing adapted tobe vpositioned below -thering meansconnecting said r*legs and Yenclosed b y said legswhenthe said standards nand --legs are in respective *first or folded positions, complementary rlocking means releasably connectingsaid legs and said standards .when inf-respective extended positions whereby-pressure of the backrest and seat structure is distributedover the said legs to maintain'said legs in 'said extended position, and aflexible cover member arranged to engage the free ends of -each said standardto forma seat andback'rest'forsaid chair.

3. Afolding collapsible chair comprising a plurality of llongitudinal legs, a ring pivotally interconnecting said legs adjacent one of the respecftive ends-thereof, the saidlegsbeing arranged 'for swinging movement on said ring 'from a 'rst position wherein saidlegs are substantially axially parallel to a second position wherein'thelegs are vin `an `extended' position adapted to support vvthe said chair on the free ends thereof, aplaniform stern member normally positioned within saidlegs when in said iirst position, constructedand `arvranged to be ltranslated upwardanddownward through saidvring, means carried vby .said stem member vadapted to slidingly engage said legs. during said translativefmovement totautomatically expand saidlegs to said second position during said upward movement and to automatically f old said legs-to said rst position'during.thedownward translative movement thereof, locking means includinglateral 4studs .on the opposite sides of said stem member, releasably engaging saidlegsinysaid second position, a plurality.of ,standardspivotally mounted at one end in pairs onopposite'sides ofsaid stem memberfonepair of vsaidstandards being adapted to provide framework for a back rest for saidchainrthe otherpair of standards, of relatively shorterlengtnbeing ,adapted .to provide aframe-work for a `seat portion, thesaid standards beingresponsive@tothe translative movement off-.said stem member. :to Vmovetoandfroma rst position' wherein thesaid standards. are substantially axiallyparallel -with -each other andthe vertical axis of said stem'member whenthesaid stem. menriber.y is positionedwithainsaid legs; in.theirrespectiverst; position :anda second-position inwhich thesaid legsareexpandedto denertheframe-work/for said! back rest and iseatjportion frespectivelyW-and ..allilexible A'cover member arranged to engage the free ends of each said standard to form a seat and back rest for said chair.

4. The structure of claim 3 in whicheach said leg is provided with an eyelet adjacent one end thereof arranged to receive and engage said connecting ring for pivotal movement of each said leg thereon.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which the said metal ring pivotally connecting said legs is of substantially rectangular configuration provided with an opening through the material forming the said ring to permit insertion of the said ring through the said eyelets, and further provided with spaced apart opposed stirrups on the respective shorter sides of said ring constructed and arranged to receive and support the said standards when extended.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which the means carried by said stem member for automatically expanding and folding the said legs during the respective upward and downward translation of said stem member includes a pair of shelf members hingedly mounted on opposite sides of the said stem and a plurality of rings attached to each said shelf member and enclosing said legs, the said rings being responsive to the said upward and downward movement of said stem member to exert pressure against said legs during the translative movement of said rings on said legs.

7. A folding chair comprising a plurality of legs mounted adjacent one of their respective ends for pivotal movement to and from a first position wherein said legs are substantially axially parallel to a second position wherein said legs are extended outwardly to form a supporting structure for the said chair when the other end of the said legs rest upon a supporting surface, a stem member normally positioned within said legs axially parallel therewith when said legs are in said first position, constructed and arranged for manually urged vertical translation within said legs, a plurality o standards pivotally mounted on said stem member and responsive to the vertical translation thereof to move to and from a first position in which the said standards are substantially axially parallel to the said legs and a second position in which the said standards dene the structure of a seat and back rest for said chair, means carried by said stem member and responsive to said vertical translative movement to move said legs to and from said respective rst and second positions, and a cover member adapted for engagement on the free ends of said standards to form a seat and back rest for said chair.

8. A folding chair comprising a plurality of legs, each said leg being pivotally mounted on a ring member adjacent one of its ends for swinging movement to and from a first position in which the said legs are substantially axially parallel to a second position in which said legs form a supporting structure for said chair, a plurality of standards, each said standard being pivotally mounted adjacent one end on a second ring member of lesser diameter than the ring member mounting said legs, the said second ring member and the standards mounted thereon being adapted for manually urged pivoting on said second ring from a first position wherein the said standards are substantially axially parallel to a second position in which the said standards define the structure oi a seat and back rest for the said chair, the said second ring and said standards mounted thereon being adapted for manual positioning within said legs when said standards are in said rst position, releasable connecting means carried jointly by said legs and said standards adjacent their respective pivoted ends, including complementary inter-engaging elements, to maintain said legs and said standards in interlocked relation when the said legs and said standards are in their respective second positions, and a flexible member adapted to engage the free ends of said standards to provide a seat and back rest for said chair.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which said rst and second ring members are provided with a plurality of collar members adapted to space apart and maintain said legs and said standards on the respective ring members in said spaced apart relation.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which the complementary connecting means include outwardly extending arcuate shoes mounted on the ends of the said legs and said standards adjacent their respective pivotal connections, each said leg shoe being provided with a serrated portion about its outer periphery adapted to register with and engage a complementary serrated portion carried about the inner periphery of each said standard shoe.

ll. The structure of claim 10 in which each said leg shoe is provided with an integral guard member having opposed side anges whereby the said serrated portions of said legs and said standards are restrained from lateral separation while in registry.

12. The structure of claim 11 in which the standard shoes are provided with enlarged terminals of greater diameter than the space between the anges of the said integral guard member to arrest passage of said shoes therebetween.

13. A folding chair comprising a plurality of legs pivotally mounted for manually urged swinging movement on a circular ring adjacent one end of each said leg, a plurality of standards pivotally mounted for manual swinging movement on a second circular ring, the said first ring being of such diameter that the said second ring and the standards mounted thereon may pass freely therethrough when the said standards have been moved on their pivots to a position in which the said standards are substantially axially parallel, releasable connecting means carried jointly on the ends of said legs and said standards adjacent their respective pivotal connections, said means comprising complementary concave and convex serrated portions thereof, the serrations of the said standards being adapted to engage in and interlock with the serrations of the said legs when the said legs and said standards have been extended on their respective connecting rings to form a supporting structure and seat and back structure, respectively, for said cha-ir and said seat and back structure is superimposed on said supporting member, and a flexible member adapted to engage the free ends of said standards to provide a seat and back rest for said chair.

FRANK J. BECKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,805 Mason June 14, 1892 1,422,319 Stoll July 11, 1922 

